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Taking Care of Your Backyard Garden

Taking care of your garden can be fun and rewarding and if you keep up with it, does not have to take long each time you are out there. There are many advantages to having a well cared for garden, it improves the appearance and value of the house, you can grow your own vegetables, and it is a way to relax and workout. During the winter months you can focus on indoor gardening. Taking care of your backyard garden does not need to be hugely expensive either so here are some tips on how to have a successful garden.

Think about where you are putting itYour climate and the type of soil you have are important factors in how to approach starting your garden and so is how much light the plants get. You need to plant where there is lots of sunlight, at least 6 hours a day. If you find your soil is lacking then use compost as it will have all the nutrients the plants need to feed and grow. Make your own compost heap in your garden and you save money from having to buy fertilizers from nurseries or gardening centers. Compost is great for both gardens already established and new ones.

Watering

A vital part of taking care of your backyard garden is knowing when to water it. Finger test your soil to see how dry it is. When the top half of the soil is dry this means the plant needs a good watering. New plants should be watered more regularly until they adjust to their new environment. If a new plant looks like it is wilting but a soil finger test shows there is enough water lightly mist the leaves and foliage. How often you water depends on the climate of where you live. If it has just rained you do not need to water the garden. If you have a dry climate consider having a sprinkler put in. If it is humid there is less need to water too. Make sure there is drainage.

Indoor plants

You can have indoor plants all year round and you can also do indoor planting as a way to start off a plant before moving it outside. This gives a plant more care and attention and better conditions for a successful start. When you do move them outside make sure you put them in the right place – do not put a plant that prefers the shade in direct sunlight and vice versa.

Silk plants

A lot of people have silk plants because they need less care and there is no problems with plants dying from forgetting to water them, or over watering them. Just have to clean then now and then with a damp rag to get them to look good. But they really are not the same as having real plants in the house and garden!